Our client, a Crown Corporation located in Mississauga, ON, is currently seeking a Director of Corporate Services to join their team on a permanent, full-time basis.  Reporting directly to the Vice President of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer, this role bears responsibility for overseeing and directing Corporate, Pension, and Market financial reporting.  This role is pivotal, designed for a leader who is passionate about driving organizational success through strategic corporate services management.  The Director of Corporate Services role is well-suited for individuals looking to make a significant contribution to a respected organization while leading a team of 18 staff members, including five direct reports. 

This opportunity offers a very competitive base salary, a hybrid work model, extensive Health & Dental Plan, and a defined Benefits Pension Plan.

Roles and Responsibilities

Strategy Development and Execution: This role involves formulating, recommending, and implementing strategies, plans, and controls to ensure that treasury, pension, and financial/credit risk policies, programs, and services align with the  objectives to enhance its ability to serve electricity markets, stakeholders, employees, and pension plan members effectively.

Collaborating with the CEO and CFO, the position entails contributing to the development and execution of components within the Enterprise Planning Framework. This includes participating in the design and implementation of strategy development initiatives and the annual business planning process. Furthermore, it involves collaborating with other stakeholders to incorporate Strategic Enterprise Risks and Performance Measures into the framework.

Identifying strategic challenges, including external environmental and operational risks, is a key aspect of this role. Additionally, the role involves validating the corporation's strategic plan and objectives, ensuring alignment with its overarching vision.

Management of Business Functions: This role entails leading, directing, controlling, and assuming responsibility for various business activities to achieve desired outcomes in the following areas:

Financial Reporting and Analysis:

• Develop timely and accurate corporate and market statutory financial statements on a quarterly and annual basis.
• Lead discussions with internal and external auditors regarding the review of quarterly and annual statements and address accounting issues.
• Ensure the maintenance of the general ledger and balance sheet accounts, including all sub-ledgers such as Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Asset Management, Markets, and Amortization, ensuring monthly reconciliation.
• Oversee taxation matters and their application.
• Provide financial expertise for business case reviews and approvals.
• Support Human Resources in labor relations and other issues through ad-hoc financial analysis.
• Provide necessary support to the Financial Planning & Analysis and Enterprise Risk Management team.

Financial Controls & Policy Development:

• Formulate financial policies covering all facets of the organization, ensuring adherence to pertinent financial regulations.
• Stay informed about external developments in financial policy.
• Present policies directly to the executive leadership team, as well as to the Audit Committee and Board of Directors for their review and potential approval.
• Assist business unit leadership in crafting and refining financial strategies.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in emerging accounting and financial matters.

Management Reporting:

• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual management reports and analyses for senior management and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
• Conduct both quantitative and qualitative financial analyses to offer insights and elucidate the business implications of financial reporting to various stakeholders, including members of the Board of Directors.
• Aid in crafting and producing presentations and ad hoc analyses for senior management, the Audit Committee, Board of Directors, and government agencies to support various projects or initiatives.

Business Planning:

• Lead the timely and precise delivery of all Business Plans and forecasts to align with the Corporate Strategic direction and integrate them into the enterprise-wide financial vision. This involves coordinating with all business units to ensure an integrated plan, providing oversight and direction to ensure the process yields the desired outcomes.
• Guide the financial planning and analysis team in producing the 3-year Business Plan annually.
• Develop comprehensive project plans for deliverables (including technology, processes, and personnel), establishing agreed timelines and deliverables.
• Establish, lead, and maintain forecasting processes and criteria, aiding management in reviewing, assessing, and evaluating complex investment and business decisions, as well as conducting forecast and variance analysis.
• Develop, disseminate, and educate on the tools and processes utilized in business planning and budgeting.
• Evaluate and pinpoint opportunities for enhancing, standardizing, and simplifying the budgeting and forecasting process.
• Provide financial support and input for the annual revenue requirement submissions  including developing evidence and strategy for fees cases, and act as a witness when required.
• Collaborate and coordinate with other finance business functions (such as Treasury, Procurement, Enterprise Change, and Accounting) to ensure consistent development of budgets and forecasts.
• Present and review operating and capital budgets, along with financial management strategies and variance analysis, to the Audit Committee and Board of Directors.
• Develop, execute, and monitor financial plans, implementing corrective measures to attain the financial objectives.
• Stay abreast of advancements in the finance, accounting, and regulatory sectors.
• Identify metrics, tools, and processes to measure results for department activities.

Qualifications and Skills

• Undergraduate degree in business, accounting, finance or economics; post graduate
  degree an asset
• A Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation
• 12 - 15 years accounting experience in a senior accounting or financial management role;
  experience with public standard accounting an asset
• Expert knowledge in Public Sector Accounting Standards and extensive experience
  working with generally accepted accounting and financial principles and practices.
• Demonstrated experience leading the external audit function and strong understanding of
  the audit standards required for a public sector organization.
• Experience in the development and application of financial policies and payroll processes.
• Strong interpersonal, change management and communication skills with an ability to
  work closely with the Executive Leadership Team, Audit Committee and Board of
  Directors.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and an ability to influence and motivate others to work
  collaboratively as team members.
• Rigorous analytical and organizational skills; able to use trouble shooting techniques to
  solve solutions or devise new courses of action within the intent of existing programs,
  legislation or professional standards
• Requires supervisory experience to exercise full managerial accountabilities including
  human resource management in the areas of employee engagement and development,
  succession planning, performance management, salary recommendations, coaching and
  mentoring